Braking device



Dec. 9, 1941. A, B, BENNETT I 2,265,469

BRAKING DEVICE Filed A ril 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY myzazm at ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1941; A. B. BENNETT BRAKING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'TToRNEYs Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKING DEVICE Alfred B. Bennett, St. Augustine, Fla.

Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. 387,733

9 Claims. (Cl. 188-425) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in braking devices.

An important object of my invention is to provide a braking device that is automatic in its action and that may be readily applied to the subframe of a vehicle, which device includes oppositely extending draft bars having provision for coupling onto other vehicles for automatically operating the braking mechanism when pressure is applied thereto by the mentioned other vehicles.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above-mentioned character which is positive in its action to set the brakes when either or both of the draft bars are pushed and which is equally positive in its action to release the brakes when either or both of the draft bars are pulled.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above-mentioned character which, while primarily adapted to be automatically operated by a second vehicle, may be adapted for use as a hand or foot operated mechanism.

Yet another object of my invention is the provision of a brake mechanism of the above-mentioned character that embodies a minimum number of parts to assure a simple and compact organization which may be easily applied to the subframe of the vehicle and which is unique in its construction to eliminate dragging or projecting parts liable to be contacted and bent or broken by a foreign object to render the mechanism inoperative.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view embodying my invention, showing the same applied to a railway car and with the parts disposed in the brake releasing position,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts positioned to apply the brakes,

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the brake operating mechanism,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of another part of the brake mechanism,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sliding block comprising a part of the invention,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means for coupling the car to another car.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose, of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the sub-frame of a vehicle, which vehicle is here illustrated as comprising a railway car and the frame is, therefore, supported by the flanged wheels ll mounted for rotation on the extending ends of the axles I2. The frame is of standard construction including spaced longitudinal stringers l3 supported by the axles l2 and a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced beams Hi.

My invention is adapted to be mounted on the transverse beams l4 and to move the brake shoes l5 against the inner annular braking surface [6 of the wheels. With this end in view, I provide supports I! which extend between the middle pair of transverse beams l4 and in slight spaced parallel relation with each other. The opposite ends of the supports are fixedly secured to the beams by means of the bolts H3, or the like, and

the confronting edges thereof are providedwith grooves l9 which receive the extending lateral flanges 20 of the sliding block 2i. The block is securely held between the supports, but the engagement of the flanges 20 within the grooves is essentially loose to permit the block to be freely slidable for the entire length of the supports.

I have provided a draft operated means for positively shifting the block longitudinally of the frame, which means includes a lever-22 pivoted intermediate its ends to one of the supports H. The end 23 of the lever terminates between the supports and a connecting link 24 is pivotedto the mentioned end and to the block whereby rocking of the lever about its pivot will effect shifting of the block within the grooves 19 and longitudinally of the frame. Obviously, if the lever is rocked in one direction, the block will be shifted toward one end of the frame and if the lever is rocked in the opposite direction the block will be shifted toward the opposite end of the frame. The inner ends of the draft bars 25 and 26 pivotally connect with the opposite ends of the lever 22 and the draft bars extend from the lever toward the opposite ends of the frame. The outer ends of the draft bars extend below the beams l4 and through aligning passages in the supporting brackets 21. The extremity of each of the draft bars extends beyond its respective end beam and is formed with a suitable yoke 28 which receives the coupling link 28' through the medium of which the same is coupled to another vehicle. A headed pin 29 extends through registering openings in the yoke and link and the extending ends thereof operate in elongated slots 29 in the supporting bracket. Obviously the pins will move to the It may thus be seen that the swinging ends of the rocker arm 3!! will simultaneously move the link bars 45 toward the outer end of the frame or away from the outer end of the frame in accordance with the direction of the pressure applied thereto. If the link bars are moved toward the ends of theframe the rocker arms 44 will rock the rod in a direction to lower the rocker arms 39, which, in turn, will move the rearward end of .theslots when-the car is being swinging end of the shoesaway from the brakpushed tdlimitthe rearward movement of the draft bars and they will move to the forward ends of the slots to limit the forward movement of the draft bars when the same are being pulled by the other vehicle.

A second lever or rocker arm 3Q-is pivoted-at substantially its middle to the underside .of the same support I! carrying thelever 22 -and-theconnecting link 3| is fixedly secured to the ing surface IQ of the wheels. If, however, the link bars 45 are moved in a direction away from the ends of the frame the rocker arms 44 will rotate the rods 31 in a direction to raise the rocker arms 39 to move the arcuate edge 34 oftheshoesinto pressed frictional engagement with the braking surface E6 of the wheels.

Iii-operation, theends of the draft bars extending: beyond the end beam M of the frame oc a at its p t o p ota connection may be coupled to other cars or vehicles and with the support whereby the extending portion therecf projects belowthe block- 2 i The" ex:- tremityof the linkhas a roller: 32- mounted for rotation on its upper side which roller rides:

undersideof the block and extending diagonally of the longitudinal axis ofthe; frame.

The --manne-r=in-which the block is moved longitudinally-- of the 1 frame between the supports a,

IT- has already-been described-anditis nowcob then hie-positioned in the manner illustratedin. The end of the lever connected to the.

viousthat oscillation of the block in the de scribedmanner: will cause -the-rol1er'32 to move back" andforth" in the guideway 33 to-"swing therocker arm 30-backand forth-about its pivot.

Ther swinging ends of the rocker arm are adapted-to operate thebrake-shoes-I B which, as

herei-nb'eforeadescribed, are adapted; to heap-- plied to the internal surface-1690f; the-wheels. Each of I thewheels is provided with-a -separate it is the action of i the'cars to: whichthe bars are connected that-operates. the. aboverdescribed braking mechanism. If the roar travellingoinlad- VfiillCB-f of the frame It. is being p'ulledi it will" withir-ra groove-or. guideway 33 formediinlthe 25- meve -the draft bar to which: itisconnecteda; maximumdistanceforwardly. of the. end'beam I43,- which distance-will belreached' when. the' headed coupling 1 pin moves to .the forward. end 7 of the slots- 2'9. The interacting linkages will Figure l. forwardly extending drawbar will be rocked .forwardly and the end thereof-connecting with the rearwardly extending d rawbarv will be rocked rearwardly to move the coupling" pin .of :the. lastmentioned drawbar to, the. outer end ofr'the, respective: slots.

The link 24 connecting with the last-mentioned end of'the lever 22Iwill retract the block braking unit and-eachunit includesa shoe-15140 Z-I amaximum distance inaJ d" di t which comprises a solid metallic block. having. an-arcuatelycurved outer edge 34% snuglyfit ting-the surface lfi ofi the wheel. OneLend; of; theshoeis connected to a supporting bracket: 35-;

andthe roller-32 0fthe-connecting. link 31 'will' 7 be advanced A a maximumdistance in ;the guide.-

way-33 to rock the endsqof the rocker; arm,30:: toward the ends of the frame. Movement ofithe-v mounted onthe-adjacentstringerl 3 bya p ingi 4 5 rocker: arm 30. in this. manner-willssimultaneousarm 36 whichnormally permitsthe shoe to .b'e. disengagedfromv the braking. surface l of the Wheel, asbestjllustrated inFigure 3 a Aarod 31 1 extends transversely of the frame adjacent each.

pair--of wheels and the opposite endslthereofiare journalled for rotation tithe-bearings; The.= ends of the rods extend beyond the stringers. but;

terminate shortof the inner surfaces: of the.

wheels and the rocker; arms 39 fixedly: mounted;

onthe extending ends of the: rods -are connected to theswinging ends of. the. brake shoes byflthex adjustableconnection 49-. This connection, asi best illustrated in Figure '7, comprises separate eye-bolts- 4-1 and 42 the heads of which are I pivotallyconnected to the shoe and .rocker arm, 0

respectively, and the threaded shanksof which. are-connected by an internally screwethreaded; sleeve-43 One-7 of the eye-bolts is provided with; a=- right hand thread: anda'the other of theeyee bolts is providedwithzavlefthand thread wheree byrotation of the sleeve in oneedirection will. move the threaded; shanks: toward: each other,

' and -rotationof the :sleeve inuthe: opposite di:

reotionwill move thenshanksl away from. each.

other to-permit the'connection to bez-adjustedl tothe proper length.- -A second rocker arm-s44- is: fixedly carried: by: each of the rods 31. inter--v mediate:-- the stringers I3 and the-link. bars 45-. pivot'allyconnecti each-Jot the. arms Mix with; at respective end of :the -rocker.'arm;3!*.-

ly 'l'ower the swinging ends. of; all i of thenbrake shoes in the manner described; to permit. free movementzof: the; wheels I, lcalongfthe; track,

Let; us assume; that the brakesare applied: t0;-

'the car or vehicleupulling, theyframe alt. This action .WiH be; immediately H transmitted todthe.

to swingnthe rocker; arm- 36iabout;i *p v ta The. abovesoperation: will swing the, ends lof the rocker arm away from thea ends of-the; frame and the link-bars Adi-will rotatei the-rods 31 to simultane ouslyraise the :swinging end of the brake shoes;

Hi. When the connections 40 areuproperly adjustedzthe; outenedge; 3,4 'ofythe brake shoes will be tightly pressed;against gtheagsurface I6 of. the

wheels whereby all" of; the wheels will :be; simultaneously braked to effect rapid stopping-cofrthel vehicle. Itzis obviousgthatthisi action Will;be, in

turn, transmitted. by the; rearwardly; .extending drawbar 26rto the -vehicle.c0nnected thereto;an.d,

if this vehicle. is-,providedswith.a brakingxdevice,

similar to, the: one hereinabove-desc'ribed the brakes of theipostjacent-a can will;also .belsimula taneously applied; Thegreaten the pressure;,ex-

of the frame having a slot extending transversely erted on the drawbar 25 by the preceding vehicle,

the greater will be the pressure applied to thebrake shoes and the greater will be the retarding action on all of the vehicles being towed. The shoes will remain in the braking position as long as pressure is applied to the drawbar 25; however, if the brakes of the precedingvehicle are released and the same is accelerated, both of the drawbars 25 and 26 will be immediately advanced a maximum distance to simultaneously release the brake shoes of each of the vehicles.

Thus the above action is automatically and instantly applied. It is not necessary to use springs or other parts which easily break or become defective and, in the event that the connections leading to one wheel or one set of wheels becomes broken or defective, the other connections will be in no wise affected to prevent braking of the vehicle when required. The entire assembly has been uniquely constructed to comprise a minimum number of parts thus materially reducing the possibility of broken or damaged parts. a

If the vehicle is to be motor propelled or otherwise operated as a unit, the brakes may be applied from either end of the car by manually retracting either or both of the drawbars 25 and/or 26. The lever 22 may be made of sufficient length to provide sufficient leverage to easily permit the link 24 to operate the block 2| and, when the roller 32 has been positioned in the guideway to set the brakes, it will be securely locked in this position until the drawbars are released.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a block mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame and having a diagonally extending slot, draft actuated means for shifting the block longitudinally of the frame, brake shoes normally disengaged from the wheels, and actuator means operatively connected with the brake shoes and including a part riding in the transverse slot of the block, whereby pressure on the draft means will shift the block longitudinally of the frame to cause the part riding in the slot to swing transversely of the frame for driving the actuator to move the brake shoes into or out of engagement with the wheels.

2. In a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a block slidable longitudinally of the frame having cam surfaces, a draft operated mechanism for shifting the block longitudinally of the frame, brake shoes operatively associated with the wheels, and a rocker arm operatively connected with the brake shoes and having a part engaging the cam surface, whereby pressure applied to the draft means will slide the block longitudinally of the frame and whereby movement of the cam surface will swing the rocker arm to move the brake shoes into or out of engagement with the wheels.

3. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a block movable longitudinally of the frame, draft means for shifting the. block longitudinally of the frame, a rocker arm pivoted to the frame having a part riding in the slot so that shifting of the block will rock the arm about its pivot, and brake shoes connected to the rocker arm for movement into or out of engagement with the wheels.

4. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a block mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame having a groove extending diagonally of the frame, a pivoted lever, a link carried by the block connecting with the lever at one side of its pivot, draft bars connecting with the lever at opposite sides of its pivot, stop means carried by each of said draft bars for limiting movement of the bars when pressure is applied thereto in either direction, brake shoes movable into or out of engagement with the wheels, and a rocker arm operatively connected with the brake shoes and having a part received within the diagonal slot of the block, whereby pressure applied to the draft bars to move the same towards the end of the frame will shift the block longitudinally of the frame to efiect movement of the mentioned part of the rocker arm within the slot to rock the arm about its pivot in a direction to move the brake shoes out of engagement with the wheels, and whereby pressure applied to the draft arms in the opposite direction will reversely shift the block to reversely move the rocker arm about its pivot to effect movement of the brake shoes into engagement with the wheels.

5. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a rocker arm pivoted to the frame, a block mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame having cam surfaces engaged by parts of the rocker arm whereby shifting of the block will rock the arm about its pivot, brake shoes movable into or out of engagement with the wheels, and linkage connecting with the rocker arm and the brake shoes in a manner whereby shifting of the block to move the rocker arm in one direction will effect braking engagement of the shoes with the wheels and whereby shifting of the block to move the rocker arm in the opposite direction will disengage the shoes from the wheels.

6. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a rocker arm pivoted to the frame, a block mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame having a cam surface engaged by parts of the rocker arm whereby shifting of the block will rock the arm about its pivot, brake shoes movable into or out of engagement with the wheels, linkage connecting the rocker arm and the brake shoes in a manner whereby shifting of the block to move the rocker arm in one direction will effect braking engagement of the shoes with the wheels and whereby shifting of the block to move the rocker arm in the opposite direction will disengage the shoes from the wheels, and draft actuated means connecting with the block for shifting the same longitudinally of the frame.

7. In combination with a truck frame having supporting wheels, an automatic brake mechanism comprising, a rocker arm pivoted to the frame, a block mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the frame having cam surfaces engaged by parts of the rocker arm wherebytsbiitingioi :the; block will lrockithe 5 arrngahout, itsspiazot;.brakezshoeszmovable lintoiorwouti cent gagementzwitn the. wheelshlinka ei. connec ing. theerooker; armzand themrakeshoes imatmane v hen-whereby, shitting 1, of; the block, to: move; the;v rockers-arm .injone; direction will effect; brakin en agement ofthe shoesi. with;.the"w1h e ndl whereby shifting of thGzblOCkallO moveitheroeker armxinlthe opposite.idirectionawill disen a e, the shoes. from-the wheels; ,drait'aetuatedmeans.conmeeting with the block forlshiftingl thel-same Ion:

shiftingeof. theblochwill rock thearmi about its a pivot, brake shoeslmoyable into; or out. .of: engagement; with: the. wheels, linkage; connecting, the rocker; arm. and the; brakeivshoes, in-a man,-

engagement, oil the; shoes: with the: wheels.- and.:

whereby shiftinghof the :block 1 to; move -.the' rockei;

armin the opposite: direction will disengage. the. shoes ;from; the;wheels,. a: lever: pivotedzintermee diate, its I ends to the frame, A a link carried 1 by 1 the: block: pivotally connecting; with; one s end of thetlever, and :draft ,bars pivoted. to. the opposite; ends of the lever: and;vextending thereiromi.to?

25 ner wherebsi shifting; of the blocklto move the; rocker arm. ingone; direction: will; effiect braking;-

ward, the. opposite ends: of: thegfra-ma wherebyapplied torei-ther. or both of the. draft RIHS I v bare-will .trockx theelever about 1' its. :piVot to shift the,- blo cklongitudinallyof the frame in accord- V ancewith t .-direction,- of the pressure applied to thesdrafthar.

9-. Irrcombination with altruek' frame having supporting-wheels, an: automatic; brake mechanism-comprisingg a trocker arm. pivoted to the frame, yawfbloclev mounted for; sliding movement longitudinally; of the. frame: having cam surfaces en agechbyg parts; ofi the. rocker arm whereby shitting of.the.;'b1ock:,wi11:rock the arm about its;

pivot;. brake shoespmovable, into crout-of engagement with ,the. wheels; linkage connecting thegrockerrarmwand the brake shoes in' a; manneri whereby-shifting; of; the: block to move the rocker; arminoneadireetion will effect braking en agement of the shoes with the wheelsand whereby shiftingtof;the-block to move the rocker armyxim .thel-oppositerdirection will disengage the shoesufrom the wheels, a: lever, pivoted interme-. diate its ends to the frame, a link carried-lav;

the; block,- pivotally connecting, with one end of the.=lever;.draft bars pivoted .to the oppositeends,

of;thei1ever,,; and :extending therefrom :toward; the opposite endsrofgtheframe, whereby pressure applied; to: eithena of; thewdra'ft; bars 1 will rock the,

lever: aboutdts; pivot to. shift the block longitudinally of thesframesinp accordance with the direction; otthee-pressure applied ,to; thee draft gbar,

and'lston means:carriedibyithev :bars for limiting longitudinal? movement; thereof v, relative; to; the

frame.

ALEREDB; BENNETIIE; 

